The Park City Council is prioritizing funding baseline repairs of leaks in the municipality’s ice arena over making other improvements or expanding the facility with a second indoor ice sheet. The proposed options were in a feasibility study conducted by MHTN Architects to identify a fix for t he persistent leaking at the Park City Ice Arena and provide direction to guide long-term planning and funding analysis.  “Since opening in 2006, the Ice Arena has experienced recurring water intrusion, particularly along the east side of the building beneath the exterior plaza and above the locker rooms,” a report on the study’s findings said. “Previous efforts, including concrete replacement, drainage improvements, crack sealing, and other localized repairs, have not provided a lasting solution.” The arena is approaching a significant renewal cycle, with major building systems and equipment scheduled for replacement in the coming years, the report said. “Demand for ice times already exceeds the capacity of the existing single-sheet facility, limiting opportunities to accommodate existing programs and expand recreational offerings,” the report said. “Continued growth in regional ice sports, along with anticipated increased interest leading up to the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the lasting legacy of those Games, further underscores the importance of planning for the facility’s future.” Feedback from the public and stakeholders representing ice sports reinforced the arena’s importance as a community recreation facility and highlighted significant limitations in available ice time and supporting spaces, such as off-ice training areas and locker rooms, the report said. The study, which councilors discussed at a Nov. 5 work session, estimated the work to fix the leaks would cost up to $3.6 million.  The Park City Ice Arena, at 600 Gillmor Way in Quinn’s Junction, is an indoor, year-round facility with an Olympic-size ice sheet. The arena’s activities include open skate sessions; skating, hockey and speed skating classes; children’s camps; leagues and adult sports; and adaptive programming. The popular facility is open seven days a week. Specialized programs and freestyle sessions frequently begin as early as 5:30 a.m., and some adult hockey players are there after midnight multiple times in a week, General Manager Amanda Angevine said. “We’ve extended our operating hours to accommodate demand, and those aren’t always desirable times for all users,” she said.  One day last week, in the span of an hour and a half, 174 skaters took lessons at the Park City Ice Arena, according to Angevine. After that, two high school teams faced off in a hockey game on the rink in the evening, she told the City Council.  “For the first time, we actually got calls from the parking lot saying there’s nowhere to park, what should I do, and people in the lobby struggling to find a place to get their kids ready and out on the ice,” Angevine said. The arena gets approximately 109,000 visits a year. Of the visitors, 15% live within Park City municipal limits, and 41% are from the Snyderville Basin.  The councilors plan further discussions at a future meeting on additional improvements and possible partnerships with external groups.  City Councilor Tana Toly wants Summit County to be at the table if there is a rink expansion.  City Councilor Diego Zegarra, the vice president of impact for the Park City Community Foundation, said in his profession, “We think about collaborative projects as a way to get things to the finish line.” Working with user groups can potentially bring in some external capital and the support of advocates for the project, he said. Mayor Ryan Dickey said he would like to consider strategic improvement opportunities.  “I’m going to really dig into parking,” he said. “For example, if we are doing something across the street and can provide parking, do we need to do it here?” In a separate matter, the City Council reviewed a proposed change in an interlocal agreement with the Snyderville Basin Recreation District that outlines how the two entities operate and fund the ice arena. The proposal calls for an increase in the district’s annual contribution to support the facility from $50,000 to $93,300 beginning in 2027. No formal action at the work session was requested. The Basin Recreation board is scheduled to consider approval of the proposal on Nov. 12. If approved, the matter will return to the City Council for a final OK. Park City Municipal and Basin Recreation entered into a 50-year agreement in August 2004 to jointly establish a regional ice facility. Each party contributed approximately $2 million toward its development, with the city retaining ownership and responsibility for ongoing operation. The agreement set an annual contribution of $50,000 and a review of the amount every three years. The city increased its funding beginning in 2018 in response to anticipated capital needs and has been contributing $66,000 annually since 2021. The municipality has committed to additional capital funding in the next few years, including $1.75 million in fiscal 2027, $170,000 in fiscal 2028 and $20,000 in fiscal 2029. Basin Recreation has continued to pay $50,000 annually. As part of this year’s review, the city and the district used the Western Region Consumer Price Index to calculate the inflation-adjusted value of the original $50,000, which is $93,300. The recreation district board expressed general support for the increase last month, according to a staff report on the proposal. The report said Park City may consider raising its contribution during the fiscal 2027 capital budget process to match Basin Recreation’s amount. The post Persistent leaks at Park City Ice Arena to be repaired appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less